Have you heard the classic phrase, ‘The eyes are the window to your soul’? Well, there’s definitely a lot of truth in it! But, do you sometimes look in the mirror and worry that your eyes are starting to show more signs of your age than your soul? That’s no wonder because the first telltale signs of aging tend to appear around the eyes. Droopy eyelids, sunken eyes, and dark circles are common aging problems.
Most people begin to notice dark and sunken eyes by their late thirties and early forties. Sunken eyes are medically termed as the ‘tear trough’ and appear as a result of the soft tissue under the eyes losing volume and laxity.
But aging is not the sole culprit! Factors such as lack of sleep, smoking, dramatic weight loss, and dehydration can make your eyes look sunken and hollow, too. So, how do you fix sunken eyes? Check out this article for some quick and natural cures.
Yes, there’s a reason why it’s called beauty sleep! Sleep deprivation is one of the dominant causes of sunken eyes. When you sleep, your body delivers fluids to tissues and organs that need replenishing, while removing any excess fluids from other areas.
Skimping on sleep, therefore, can result in fluid retention and cause under-eye bags and dark circles. When you cut back on sleep, the cortisol levels in your body also increase, interfering with collagen production. If your skin loses collagen, the area under your eye is one of the first places to become thinner and hollow.
[ Read: Meditation for Sleep ]
Dehydration is another common cause of sunken eyes. This is an especially noticeable symptom in children and babies. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it is taking in.
When the body’s water or fluid requirements are not met, it cannot carry out its normal functions. If you notice that your baby has sunken eyes, along with symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, seek medical attention immediately.
Placing slices of chilled cucumbers or potatoes under the eye is another widely recommended home remedy. It is believed that vitamin C and caffeic(1) acid in cucumbers help to hydrate and soothe the skin, while the ‘catecholase’ enzyme in potatoes helps to brighten the skin and get rid of dark circles.
[ Read: Eye Mask for Dark Circles ]
Virgin olive oil contains polyphenols such as hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and oleuropein. These polyphenolic compounds have beneficial antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit the skin.
The position of your eyes in the socket depends on your genetics. |
Vitamin C is necessary for the production of collagen – the protein that offers support and elasticity for the skin. If you want to repair your eyes, you need to boost your collagen production.
[ Read: Natural Remedies for Dry Eyes ]
Fish oil consists of omega-3 fatty acids. These omega-3 fatty acids help to improve inflammation and promote skin tissue repair and, therefore, are an effective way to get rid of sunken eyes.
Teabags contain caffeine(2) which can improve sunken eyes because of their antioxidant properties. Caffeine also has diuretic properties that help to withdraw excess fluid from under the eyes naturally and stimulate blood circulation.
[ Read: Teabags for Stye ]
Almond oil is another miracle cure for sunken eyes. The oil has helpful antioxidants and regenerative properties.
[ Read: Almond Oil for Dark Circles ]
Sunken and hollow eyes can be emotionally distressing and can make you feel unattractive. But it is important to understand that it could also be a subtle sign of various other underlying problems such as faulty food habits, sleep deprivation, lack of nutrition, prolonged illness, and dehydration. A healthy lifestyle and good eating habits can significantly help in rectifying this problem.
There are a number of factors that can cause dark eye sockets. Poor blood circulation, genetics, thin skin around the eyes, facial bone structure, and pigmentary alteration due to a prior inflammation are some common causes for dark eye sockets.
Dark circles are not necessarily a sign of illness. However, stress, fatigue, or an underlying health condition can cause dark circles, too.